Stories Behind the Poses

Dr Raj Balkaran is a renowned scholar of Hindu mythology and author of The Goddess and the King in Indian Myth (2018) and The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth (2020). He holds advanced degrees in Hinduism from the University of Toronto and University of Calgary. A seasoned online educator with a global cohort of students, Dr Balkaran also teaches online courses privately and at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. He apprenticed with an Indian master for twelve years as part of a living oral tradition dedicated to the preservation and application of Hindu mythology and philosophy. He therefore brings hundreds of hours of traditional transmissions of yoga philosophy to the table, which he dovetails with academic rigor and captivating storytelling.

• INTRODUCTIONCHAPTER 1 ŚIVA, LORD OF YOGAPERFECTION POSEELEPHANT TRUNK POSEWAR GOD POSEMOUNTAIN POSEWARRIOR POSETERROR POSEDOG POSECOBRA POSELORD OF DANCE POSECORPSE POSE  CHAPTER 2 VIṢṆU THE COMPASSIONATERECLINING POSEEAGLE POSEFISH POSETORTOISE POSELION POSETHREE-STRIDES POSEMONKEY POSECHILD POSETWO-HEADED BIRD POSEYOGIC SLEEP POSE  CHAPTER 3 DEVI AND HER MANIFESTATIONSSWAN POSELOTUS POSEPLOUGH POSECRANE POSECRESCENT MOON POSETHRONE POSENAVEL POSEHERO POSESCORPION POSELEG BEHIND HEAD POSE  CHAPTER 4 THE POWER OF THE GODSREVERENCE POSEHORSE POSEHALF-MOON POSECOW FACE POSEWHEEL POSEARCHER POSETREE POSENOOSE POSETHUNDERBOLT POSEYOGIC STAFF POSE  CHAPTER 5 THE WISDOM OF THE SAGESSAGE MARĪCI POSESAGE KAŚYAPA POSESAGE ṚCĪKA POSESAGE VASIṢṬHA POSESAGE VIŚVĀMITRA POSESAGE GĀLAVA POSESAGE AṢṬĀVAKRA POSESAGE DURVĀSAS POSESAGE MATSYENDRA POSESAGE BHARADVĀJA POSE  CONCLUSIONINDEXFURTHER READINGACKNOWLEDGMENTSAUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

“The storytelling is brilliant at intermingling allegorical and emotional truths to enhance the practice of yoga.. a unique, commanding perspective that will enrich any yoga practice.”